Re: shelly_b

Tee-totalers, 'eh? I can understand if her father had been a heavy drinker. My grandma's Panatellas didn't smell awful like regular cigars. Fortunately. Some of 'em really stink! I literally gag from them.

Re: Aba Bro

My Italian Grandmother never smoked, or drank. She would get so upset when my grandfather would take a swig of his whiskey in front of her. My grandmother's father was a heavy drinker so I'm told. For a while my brother smoked cigars. Thank goodness he kicked the habit! I can't stand the smell!

Re: Re: BC

She was my maternal grandmother... her family was from around Naples. Her mother didn't drink beer... my mother didn't like beer at all. I drink it, but it's not my favorite. It usually depends on the food or situation... Corona on the beach is nice.

I can't really figure out where she developed a taste for it... because I feel beer is truly an acquired taste. She married very young... I thought perhaps when my grandfather was in WWII. But I never saw him take a drink in my entire life...

I am afraid both passed away before I even knew them. Of course once nearly everyone smoked once I grew my own tobacco it was rank. Not a good idea for grandmothers these days. Attitudes change and grandmothers look younger,well some do.

Re: BC

Maybe her DNA would reveal some other ethnicities there... Is she of your maternal line? The mtDNA changes very little over 20-25 generations. So, do you like beer? I am not that fond of it, but will rarely, and I mean rarely, have a Newcastle ale.

Re: There were cartoons based on Southern life where little old ladies

Ah, yes, I've heard of those but never knew anyone who did smoke them either. My mom said she had smoked cornsilk as a kid! I had never heard of that one. My parents stopped smoking also, and one of the last things my mother ever said to me was, "Don't smoke." Thank you, Pat.

LOL... my grandma didn't smoke. She did surprise everyone when she occassionally chugged down a beer in the summer. She was a little italian lady... so it didn't fit her at all... I don't know where she developed her liking for beer.

There were cartoons based on Southern life where little old ladies

smoked corncob pipes, but I never actually met one who did. My gram was against tobacco in any form, and Mom stopped smoking at age 68 when a doctor told her she had a choice, she could smoke or she could breathe.